“I would exercise but I am just so tired and exhausted as it is.” We hear this all too often.

Believe it or not, exercise actually will boost both energy levels and mood. Contrary to popular belief, perpetual rest will only keep you tired. Perpetual rest gives way to a sedentary lifestyle, which can lead to a host of medical issues.

There are no concrete findings on why exercise results in increased energy levels. However, over 90% of studies on this topic have shown that when an active regimen is introduced to an initially sedentary individual, less fatigue is reported. It can be expected that activity promotes heart health, so it should not be surprising that increased cardiovascular health means that we would have better endurance throughout our day to address and tackle daily tasks, which leads to less general “tiredness”.

In addition, post exercise endorphin levels increase, contributing to better moods. We’ve all heard this before, but what does that actually mean? Well, when you start exercising, you are putting your body in a state of stress, your heart rate increases and your sympathetic nervous system (that fight or flight response) kicks in. To offset the stress of exercising, your body releases endorphins to minimize the feeling of discomfort while exercising and sometimes even producing a feeling of euphoria.

Exercise also influences your sleeping habits. When exercising regularly, you tend to get better quality sleep. Expending energy will allow us to fall into a deeper sleep, once we do fall asleep. This leaves us feeling more energized and refreshed when we wake up, which means less grogginess, better energy levels and sharper focus.

Just ask yourself this: When was the last time you regretted going to the gym after your workout was done?